December 31, 2012

Well I hope you all had a great Christmas!! I sure did because I got to talk to the best family on earth... otherwise known as the SQUIRE FAMILY! And with my Grandpa Serna and adopted big brother, Tyler too... so yeah. My life is preeety good.

- BARBARA GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!! WAHOO!!! It was so great. She already has a friend from school who is Mormon and he was able to come to the baptism and the confirmation yesterday, and she was super happy!! We went to pick her up for church yesterday and she came out in a SKIRT! I about passed out. We didn't say anything about it because not everyone has skirts and not a lot of people have the money to buy them, and if they do, there's not any that are modest. BUT! Her MOM had one and said, "you should start going to church in a skirt." WOO! We were two happy missionaries yesterday!! We found out that Natalia really likes the Mormon church, but it's hard for her to get up and go on Sundays. Her marido, boyfriend, father of her children, whatever, is not the best person and doesn't want to get married, so there´s not much we can do about it. But we're hoping to baptize Lautaro and if we do, I KNOW that one day she will be a member!! This is one of the circumstances that I've had to patient and ´wait on the Lord´ and trust in HIS timing, and not mine. But I have faith that she will one day be baptized.

- So I forgot to say what Christmas Eve is like here in Argentina. At midnight, they set off fireworks ALL OVER and it's like a war zone with all of these explosions (illegal fireworks for sure). Then they open presents and go around to their neighbors and eat and chat until like 5 in the morning. They also eat a lot of fruit salad. I can't tell you how many bowls I've had since Monday. We'll be going to a member's house tonight to eat some more and say, "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Hna Gomez and I bought some bubbly and we'll be toasting to the New Year solas (**alone) tonight since Vawdrey and her comp moved.

- On Thursday, we were finishing up the day and it started POURING!! I didn't have my umbrella and Gomez didn't have a hood so we were like "WHATEVER!" We got soaked in a matter of 5 minutes walking home, so we ran in the rain, jumped in puddles and played on the seesaw in a park for a bit. The pic below is the after effects. Fun times!!

- On Friday, we had the end of year dinner with the two wards. It was SO FUN! There was so much food and the youth (including my converts Tatiana and Erika) danced Argentine folklore in traditional dress and it was so great!!!! I love all of the traditional music and dances of Argentina. I was talking to Elder Gravelle and we were like, "what does the U.S. have in terms of traditional dances? The line dance? cotton eyed joe? The chicken dance?" Ha ha. Sad. They played some great music and Gomez and I were having a hard time not dancing. We may have done the sprinkler a few times when no one was looking... my friends know I can't dance.... ha ha. Tatiana and Erika are doing so well and fit right in with the members. They love them so much and are just part of the big family. That makes me SO HAPPY as a missionary. There needs to be a good hand off from missionaries to members, since we're not going to be here forever, they need to have the support system. Erika is now trying to save up to go to EFY in February and I KNOW that will be a great experience for her and a testimony builder.

-To finish, I started reading the Book of Mormon again in Spanish. I LOVED this verse in 2 NEFI 4:34, 35 34 O Lord, I have atrusted in thee, and I will btrust in thee forever. I will not put my ctrust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his dtrust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

December 24, 2012

First off, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!! I hope you all have snow because we're having a CRAZY rainstorm right now. We got soaked walking to the cyber in a matter of 5 minutes. WOW!

Elder HALL from Provo MTC District!

- Well it was a fun and interesting week. We had our Christmas activity on Tuesday and it was the BEST! We got to the chapel and I hear "Hermana Squire?" and I turn around AND GUESS WHO IT IS!!! ELDER HALL!!!! (Elder Hall was in my district at the MTC in Provo) I started flippin' out and bouncing on the spot because it was as good as seeing family! He's grown up in the past 8 months and it was honestly so hard not to just squeeze the heck out of him! But I didn't do it, don't worry!! It was so nice to chat and catch up.

To start off the activity, about 50 of us went to this Catholic Care Center for people with disabilities and we sang to them. It was so wonderful! You could feel the spirit so strong because these people are so special and you can just feel their sweet spirits!

After that, we met up with the rest of the group to sing in Centro. It was so awesome! We were on the news here in Bahia! The only bad thing is that they said that we were the "Coro Evangelista"! (Evangelical Choir) POR FAVOR! But then they changed it the next day. We had an Hermano play the violin while we were singing. Investigators and miembros were telling me that I showed up front and center in the clips. Ahhh... how embarrassing. We weren't allowed to proselyte but it was amazing how many people stopped US to say "What are you doing? Who are you guys?" So amazing. We were STILL able to do some missionary work. We got back to the church, ate, had a hilarious talent show and a fireside by Presidente. It was great. They gave us letters from home and a letter to each missionary from Presidente and Hermana. It was a very spiritual and touching day but it made me feel a little trunky!! Haha I was like "I want to be with my family!" But it's ok, I get to talk to y'all tomorrow.

- Just some quick funny things about Hna Gomez- She is TERRIFIED of dogs. When we are walking down the street and there's a dog on her side, she switches sides with me. She won't knock on a door if there's a dog in front of it, and she's always like "IT'S GONNA BITE MEEEE." Haha, we laugh a bunch. She's one of 9 kids, and all of her family are members. She is the 4th missionary in her family and is an excellent teacher. I'm happy for this time that we have to serve together.

Hermana Gomez

- SHOUT OUTS: Hey you, Yes YOU (all of you!!) Merry Christmas.

I have never felt so much happiness and joy as I do as a missionary. I get to see people's LIVES change through obedience to the gospel. I get to meet wonderful people every day and grow close to them, close enough to call them family. I am SO GRATEFUL for my savior Jesus Christ. That He came to earth, and that He died so that we might live again. I am so GRATEFUL for the restored gospel. I know with every fiber of my being, every particle of my body, that THIS is the TRUE and ONLY TRUE church. If you don't know that yet, I invite you to get down on your knees and ask our Heavenly Father if it's true. We have the FULLNESS of the gospel. People often tell us that we look different, that we have a light about us. THAT, my friends, is the LIGHT of CHRIST and the LIGHT of the GOSPEL. And you can have it too. If you have lost that light, I'm inviting you to find it. It is never too late. Remember when you made covenants with our Heavenly Father that it was FOREVER. Not for a time, but FOREVER. Once you enter into the gate, there is NO TURNING BACK. You stay on that straight and narrow and I PROMISE YOU, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that you will find indescribable happiness. I love you all and I want you all to have this happiness and pure JOY that I have. The JOY that makes me want to shout out "I LOVE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!" AND "I LOVE BEING A MORMON!!!"

Have a very MERRY Christmas and remember, I love you.

Hermana Squire

Elder Stott an alumni from LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL!

Hermanas in Santa hats with...ummm...Santa....

Pic four: Elder Stott! He went to LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL!!!!! We had to do the "L P" together! RACHELLE & EMILY!!!!!! HE SAID 'TELL THEM HI AND TELL THEM TO WRITE ME!!!!!"

December 17, 2012

I want y'all to put on NSYNC ¨Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays¨ on right now and think of Hermana Vawdrey and I singing at the top of our lungs in the pension at 7 in the morning (especially for you Kris)!!!!

WELL HELLO! I hope all is well in the good old United States. I'm just walking around sweating all the time and then I see a little plastic Christmas tree and I'm like "OH YEAH!!! IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME." It really is going to be just another day of work for us... BUT I get to talk to my FAMILY!!!! WAHOOO!

- Ok, so I'm trying to think about what happened this week. We have been practicing singing for our Christmas activity tomorrow. It's going to be half of the mission and we'll be singing 5 Christmas hymns in the plaza en Centro, and in the Hospital! They said we can´t proselyte, but little do they know that when we sing about Christ, it will be proselytizing in a way! Right?! Music can touch hearts, so I'm hoping there will be lots of people there! And I think we're even going to be on TV....so yeah. That will be fun!

-So Barbara. She's progressing really well and really wants to get baptized and do the right things but she slept in for church yesterday!! So now she can't get baptized until next Saturday! BOO! Who needs sleep anyway!!?? Ok, but we are really praying that she can realize how important church is. Maybe we'll buy her an alarm....

- We found PAULA again...!!!! We've started teaching her de nuevo and she REALLY has a testimony of the LDM.(**Book of Mormon) We're praying she can come to church and feel that is where she needs to be. She's such a sweet woman and I KNOW she could get baptized!!

- Hna Gomez and I have been getting to know each other better this week. She's pretty straightforward and says things how they are but is also SUPER funny. She's so quick and sarcastic, so as you can see, we get along great! She is also a hard worker and a very good teacher!! We have been working hard all week to find new investigators.!

- On Saturday, we had another missionary day with the jovenes(**youth) in the stake. We went with Mité, a cute and hardworking 15 year old. We found two new investigators with her, and all before lunch! What a miracle! We taught one girl the first lesson and after we taught the First Vision, she said ¨que lindo! genial!¨(**how wonderful and brilliant!) and I was like..." ahhhh!" She accepted a fecha bautismal, (**baptismal date) but might be moving in the next bit.

-During this Christmas season, I hope you all remember why we celebrate this special time. I am so grateful for my Savior and all He did for me. I have grown closer to Him in these 10 short months as I have labored in His work. President Monson said this ¨There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ.

Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.

Because He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence.

Because He came, we know how to reach out to those in trouble or distress, wherever they may be.

Because He came, death has lost its sting, the grave its victory. We will live again because He came.

Because He came and paid for our sins, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life.

Because He came, we are gathered tonight to worship Him, in bonds of brotherhood and love."

- SHOUTOUTS! MARGIE! Got your pkg this week!!! THANK YOU!

And thank you Grandpa and Grandma Hobson for the card! Loved it!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday KRISTEN! Yes, I'm one day late and I didn't have time to draw you a hideous self portrait, but don't worry, you'll get one soon!!

Adrienne! Thanks for the email!!! Good to hear from you!!! (FINALLY.) :-)

Happy late birthday to Michelle in Idaho! And happy birthday to Susan and Nancy next week!

December 10, 2012

Well, it's been a pretty rewarding week as far as missionary work goes. There are weeks and transfers when you reap and some when you sow, and this was definitely a reaping week.

- TATIANA AND ERIKA GOT BAPTIZED!!! Wahoo!! I was SO HAPPY! It was so nice to see many days of hard work finally pay off. Saturday we got transfer calls and sadly Hermana Batista got called to Mar Del Plata, and I get to stay. At least she got to see the baptism! Saturday was a day of walking in the hot, hot sun. We had to walk to the terminal, then to the capilla (**chapel) to fill up the font (a 45 minute walk) make refreshments and pack that day, so it was super crazy!! We picked up Tatiana and Erika and got them all dressed and ready. Erika was so scared but she didn't want to say anything. I was so worried! Tatiana told me, "I'm not scared anymore, the nervousness left me." But after they got out of the water they were both so happy and peaceful. I asked Tati how she felt and she said FELIZ!! It was such a great day!!!!!!!!! They both got confirmed yesterday.

- In church, Hna Batista gave her farewell testimony and cried, and I cried because I'll really miss her. She was a great companion and friend. But I'm glad the Lord isn't going to make me stay with the same companion for 4 transfers again.. because when that happens, by the 3rd transfer you're praying for patience, and by the 4th you're praying not to throw her in front of a bus. Hah. It's good that we finished the companionship as friends. ANYWAY! She came back to sit by me just crying and I had one arm around my amazing companion, and the other around Tatiana, who was all snuggled into my side. I felt a lot of love that day!

- I know I say how hot it is every week but really.....I almost died yesterday. It was 96 degrees and here the heat is SO HEAVY. It just weighs down on you and makes you tired and burns you. WOW I'm grateful that I'm only here for one summer!! And it's not even summer yet!!!! FLIP!

- So on Friday it rained and cut the power. We went home half an hour early because there were no street lamps and it's kinda dangerous for us walking in the dark. So we came back, lit candles and told scary stories in the dark with the other hermanas. SUPER FUN NIGHT.

- OK SO I HAVE A NEW COMPANION!! Her name is Hermana Gomez. She's from Buenos Aires, she's 29, and used to be a teacher!! She's great!! I think we'll get along great this transfer!! AND GET THIS! SHE´S TALLER THAN ME! And man, we sure can walk fast! I'm excited for this time to work with her and get to know her better.

- SO our house is now Hotel Bahia... all the hermanas that are leaving tomorrow are staying with us. 2 got here last night and one more got here at 2 in the morning. That was a fun call with the AP... "Hermana, I'm so sorry but we're on our way to your house right now with Hna Bingham"... "uggghhh....okay Elder we'll be ready." Haha. It's been a long night and day. We'll have a total of 5 extras staying the night.... PLUS the four of us that already live there!!!!! Hna Vawdrey got her first Latina companion! I'm hoping we´ll all be together for Christmas!!!!

- Just really quick, I'm really grateful that the Lord is blessing us here in Villa Mitre. Sometimes He puts us through the refiners fire so that we can become better missionaries and rely on Him more. I know when we do our part, He will do His. We were talking about our Christmas activity and our ZLs asked us to think of a present we could give to our Savior. I want to give you all that same challenge, too. What could you give up or do better for our Savior this Christmas? It's easier when you're a missionary to think of things to give up, because we have already given up so much. But it really isn't that much of a sacrifice for me. It is an honor to serve Him.

SHOUTOUTS! Tyler and Ashley, THANK YOU FOR THE EMAIL!! Love you guys!

HEY SQUIRE COUSINS! Have fun at the Santa party tonight! Love you cuties.

VAUGHAN! I'm gonna kick your married bum when I get home! But really, I am beyond happy for you! You deserve the best and the only thing I ask is PICTURES PLEASE!!!!

Myranda Thurman, you've got a letter on the way!! Thanks for writing!!

HEY! Listen, I love you all!!! I hope all you BYU students survive finals (yeah... don't miss that) and that all of you have an amazing holiday season.

Besitos de Argentina, (****little kisses from Argentina)

Hermana Squire

Misioneros de Villa Mitre 2; Elders Cruz y Gravelle; Hermana Batista

Registros de Enseñanza...best thing you can see! (reports of lessons taught)

December 3, 2012

Hey. It's December. And it's 85 degrees outside. And I melted on the way to church yesterday!!! AT 8 o'clock in the MORNING! It was like 80 degrees!! I swear!!!! AND I'M JUST SO DANG HAPPY RIGHT NOW! Why? I´LL TELL YOU WHY!!

- WE ARE HAVING TWO BAPTISMS THIS SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!! Can I get a woo woo!!!!!???? (Taylor) AHHH I'M SO GRATEFUL! Earlier this week, Erika was having doubts. Not doubts really, but she was embarrassed. I showed her the picture of my baptism and how you can see the fear in my face and we told her that sometimes we have to do things that make us embarrassed, but in the end, we´ll remember the beautiful feelings we had, and not the embarrassment. She was much better after that chat! They are both reading and praying and LOVING Primary and Young Women's. We taught them the Word of Wisdom and the only problem they had was drinking tea. They said that they would leave it and when we passed by yesterday, we asked how it was going. Erika said, "good, now when we make tea, I have milk instead." AHHH! We changed the baptism to Saturday so they could get confirmed the next day... and the Elders are teaching two primary kids that (if everything goes well) should get baptized the same day! FOUR BAPTISMS FOR VILLA MITRE 2! The members are super pumped now!!!!! They are visiting our investigators and everything!!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!! There has been a change in the ward... they now have more animo por la obra misional! (***more courage and desire for missionary work) Transfers are this week... I HOPE I STAY!!!!! We also have a sister missionary coming home tomorrow... .hellooo!!! She will be awesome in helping us!

- Remember Natalia? Well, now we are teaching her daughter, Barbara! She's 14, came to church with us yesterday and LOVED IT, and has a fecha(**date) for the 22! WOOO! She didn't have interest before, but we always asked if she wanted to join in on the lesson and Tuesday she said, "YES!" WOOOO!!! The Lord is really blessing us here in Villa Mitre!

- CHRISTMAS IS SOON! WHAT THE???? Mom, I'm glad you're all decorated at home. Send me pics! But I sure am glad I didn't have to haul 25 poinsettias up and down the stairs this year! Glad we got rid of the devils! :-)

- So I read the talk by President Monson from the priesthood session, I think it's called " See People As They May Become". I LOVED IT!!!!! I have never really been a person to judge. Even before the mission. I've never been one to be like "what the heck is up with that guy??". I've always thought, "bueno, I don't know what they're going through, I don't know their circumstances, who am I to judge?? That trait has only improved here in the mission. And the reason I loved that talk is because Pres. Monson shares that "people CAN change. And we have to see them as how they COULD be." There's a quote by Elder Holland " God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been, as He does about where you are, and with His help, where you are willing to go". I always try to see people here as future Relief Society Presidents, future Bishops, future missionaries. It helps me to get past the cigarrettes in their mouths, the alcohol on their breath, etc. When I start to see people that way, it helps me teach better. We have to remember that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God, and people CAN change. We just have to have faith that they will.